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Replies to: POLL: Did you take a SAT prep course?

*sigh* yes. My reading/writing scores were only in the mid 500's...ended up with 660 and 610 on W and R, although it's hard to say whether it was due to the prep course or me simply reviewing a few grammar rules.

@Rusty84 and @AustroHungarian: I agree; it wasn't worth the $450. I was hitting ~190 PSAT's, got a 2170 on the actual test. Still improved, but I probably could've done the same improvement by just reviewing some grammar rules and SAT strategies. Much cheaper as well.

Nope. I've found that prep courses are really only for people who will never look at the material in another setting or just aren't motivated. Even then, it's somewhat of a lost case. My parents repeatedly asked, but I told them that it was a waste of money (they didn't go to high school here, so they don't really know too much about this process :/)

Here's my advice: If you are a top student who is motivated, buy the blue book, another SAT book (I prefer Barron's), and Direct Hits. Use the blue book to take practice tests each weekend. Use the other book to go over weak spots, review, and strategize. Direct Hits=CR vocab. Do this over 6 or 7 weeks. Took me from a 2000 (absolutely NO prep)
>2230.

Oh, and if you suck at math (like me, the Asian anomaly), FOCUS on it when studying. It's not going to come easily, especially if you took geometry in 8th grade and can't remember it!

Thanks for the detailed reply, annue15. I will definitely take you up on some of that advice. And no shame in being an Asian anomaly! For what it's worth, it will probably increase your chances in the admissions process ;-)

Actually I took a prep course (more like tutoring service but I'm not sure if that counts) over the summer into my junior year. My scores went up a lot. I started out with a 1580 and now, officially, I have a 1980. I'm taking it again in June and expecting above a 2000. I'm not sure if the tutoring made the difference (I had a 3 students to 1 teacher ratio).

But my suggestion is that you make sure you do your research before going into any tutoring/prep class for the SAT. The only reason why I chose this company was because my parents' friend highly recommended it!

**Also, I'm not lying about this. I know 400 points are a lot, but I'm telling the truth about this...

Did not, I think they may be valuable for the medium type questions (of the three types, easy, medium, or hard). As you get higher and higher it becomes more about your own ability to analyze the question and be able to look at it different ways. I don't personally think a course could help that, it comes with practice. (if that's all your course does then its a waste of money anyway)

Tutors help for students to get from the mid section scores (50%) (from roughly 1400-1500) to go to up to 1800-1900.

Tutors can teach students the essential skills that top scores take for granted. The highest scores simply have to come from within. You can assure that 90% of people with 800 CR scores have been reading since they were two.

I agree with div301. If you are around 1500, taking a GOOD prep course may help. If you're starting around 1900 or so, prep courses will be redundant, teaching you basic skills you probably already knew.

div301 is also correct in saying that tutors teach essential skills and strategies, but those are usually covered in prep books.

As div301 says, the highest scores are simply innate or the result of years of practice. I received an 800 CR score, and while I don't believe that I was reading at the age of 2, I read books obsessively as a child (and still do). During the summer, I'd come home from the library with a stack of books and read them all day long! From that, I gained an extensive vocabulary and a knack for interpreting passages. Reading is a fun, entertaining hobby for me :)

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